Credible information obtained from the corridors of power at the Castle, Osu indicate that President John Evans Atta Mills is happy that his one-time competitor in the 2008 Presidential Elections, Nana Addo, whom he defeated in the last elections has been given the nod once again to lead the largest opposition party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) into the 2012 elections.
According to the source, the Presidency monitored the NPP elections with very keen interest as results started trickling in from the 228 Constituencies in which the elections took place around 3.30pm on Saturday at which time polling had already ended and counting had began across the country.
With the emphatic victory that Nana Akufo Addo was able to chalk last Saturday as against the 2007 Congress at the University of Ghana, Legon, which he failed to obtain the 50 percent – 1 vote, the stage has now been set for the two presidential candidates in the last election to battle it out again in the 2012 Presidential elections. The kind of euphoria that entangled supporters of Nana Akufo Addo when the trend showed clearly that he has won the contest, was no similar to that of the Castle as the general perception among sympathizers of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is that the NPP flagbearer can never defeat President Mills in any contest.
A deep throat source at the Castle hinted the Crystal Clear Lens newspaper that after all the signs on the wall pointed to Nana Addo’s second coming to have a trial at the number one and of course the top job in the country, President Mills was in his usual self and kept his cool and was quite happy that his former competitor would be coming face-to-face with him once again come the 2012 Presidential elections.
Some members of the NDC who were rejoicing over the Akufo Addo victory believes strongly that if then candidate Mills, whose party was in opposition and had little resources was able to defeat the NPP and Akufo-Addo, then they see no reason why the sitting President cannot repeat the dose. Nana Akufo Addo has been in politics for quite a good number of years but Is not someone who is feared to be capable of returning the elephant which had been in political obscurity for some time to power since the former Member of Parliament (MP) carries a lot of baggage with him and would be rejected once more by the good people of Ghana who are beginning to appreciate the good work that President Mills’ government is doing.
It is believed by many that in spite of the earlier criticisms that was leveled against President Mills that his government was too slow and not delivering, many are such critics who are beginning to revise their notes as there is macroeconomic stability, inflation keeps going down month after month and have been able to achieve a single digit inflation, a feat which the NPP couldn’t achieve in their eight years in power.
The Single Spine Salary Structure which the NPP couldn’t implement when it was in power had been implemented by His Excellency within 18 months in office and public workers, especially the Police, who used to complain bitterly under the NPP are now praising President Mills. Upon his assumption in office, the President has demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubt that he is a listening leader who always has the concerns of the people at heart. Mention can be made in utility tariffs by the PURC. Upon complains by the general public, Public, Prof. Mills asked the PURC to take a second look at the increment. The President expressed his concern in the STX Housing deal which became a subject of controversy at the floor of Parliament. As a result of inadequate clarity of the deal, President Mills asked the deal to be withdrawn until further checks before it was sent back for approval.
Furtherance, many people within the ruling party believes strongly that Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a.k.a Alan Cash even though, cannot win the elections against President Mills but would have performed better than Nana Akufo Addo, who is expected to be given a political technical knockout by President Mills.
Nana Akufo Addo’s emphatic victory within the NPP flagbearership race is seen by the Presidency as a sign of good things to come and that President Mills and the NDC know the NPP Presidential candidate very well that they will map up a very good strategy to shut him up in his political career forever.
